Tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines



May 11, 1937. R. D. SHAW I 2,079,720 TRACER FOR HYDRAULICALLY QPERATED DIE SINKING MACEINES Filed Jan. 28, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 1 1; 1937 p 2 ,079,720 a v TRACER ron HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED i v .1 pm smxme MACHINES 3 Robert p. Shaw, Hartford, com, "assignon by mesne" assignments, to Niles-Bement-Pond' Company, New York, N.

New Jersey Y., a corporation of? Application January 28, i936; Serial traii f 9 Claims. (01. 9M?

This invention relates to 'pattern following tracers for controlling the operation of hydraulically operated machine tools such as' die sinkin machines. 1 1

An object of the present invention is to provide controlling valves for opening and closing conduits in the hydraulic system of the machine which in turn control movements of the principal parts thereof, the-valves being opened and closed by oscillatory or axialmovements of the pattern following tracer member. v or One feature which enables me to accomplish the above object is that the tracer is in the form of a universally movable tracer bar having limited oscillatory and axial movements, the oscillatory movements of the bar about an intermediate ball and socket joint'serving to open and close conduits to move the work and tool laterally relative to each other in directions normal to each other, and the axial movements of the bar serving to open or close other conduits controlling the toward and from relationship between the work and cutter. 1

Another feature which is of importance is that axial movements of the tracerbar to vary the toward and from relationship between the cutter and work can take place with the tracer bar in any oscillated position and oscillatorymove ments of the bar to control the lateral movements of the work relative to the cuttercan take place with the tracer bar in any axial position.

With the above and other objects in view, my

invention includes the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specifi- J cation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. t

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this-specification, I have limiting thescope of the invention the claims appended to this specification being. relied upon forthat purpose. j E p I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional vista the valves movable thereby; and f y 'Fi'gl2 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system and the tracer controlled valves employed with my improved hydraulic tracer.

In the above mentioned drawings I have shown pattern, following tracer and thefluid controlling but one embodiment of theinvention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ally by oscillatory movements of the tracer bar, there being preferably two of these valves simultaneously movable in the same direction by an oscillatory movement of the tracer bar; third, a lever, one end of which engages the end of the tracer bar opposite that engaged by the pattern; and fourth, a valve movable by pivotal movements of this lever when the tracer bar is moved axially in any of its oscillated positions.

In the above mentioned copending application there is shown a die sinking machine the movable members of which areoperated by means of hydraulic pistons movable in cylinders disposed normally to eachother. The present invention is adapted for application to a similar hydraulically operated machine but, instead of having a standard electrical controlling tracer as shown in the copending application, the present tracer mechanism and machine are wholly hydraulic in their control and operation. For simplicity ofillustration and description, relay valves are not 7 shown betweenthe conduits opened and closed by the movements of the tracer bar and the conduits supplying fluid to the'cylinders for actuating the pistons. Such relay valves and circuits, how- .ever,:may beintroduced in the usual manner.

Fig. 2 shows the three pistons in the same plane for betterillustratio'n of the operation of the machine. It will be understood that the cylinder controlling toward and from relationship between the pattern, and tracer will be normal to the ,plane in whichthe axes of the other cylinders lie. This diagram also shows valve chambers l6 and i1 spaced laterally for clearer description and illustration. The present form of the invention shows'all fluid for actuating. the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders and the movable'members of the die sinking machine passing through the tracer controlled "conduits, "passages through which are opened and closed by movements of the valves actuated by oscillatory and axial movements of the tracer bar.

' ing Ill and is mounted for universal limited movement in a suitable ball and socket bearing |2 provided within the casing. As the form of bearing is similar to that shown and described in patent to Shaw et a1. 2,007,899 granted July 9, 1935, further description is not thought to be necessary. The disposition of the bearing I2 is such that limited axial movement of the tracer bar may I take place rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1- as well as" limited oscillatory movements in any direction. The pattern engaging end of the tracer bar II is provided in the usual manner'with a removable tracer following member l3 having a spherical end surface of any desired diameters.

- Intermediate the tracer bar, between its bear.- ing l2 and rearward end, are interposed two lat erally 'slidable valves l4 and i5, one above the other, but spaced apart by a portion of the casing l0 so that separate valve chambers l6 and H for the valves l4 and I5 are provided. These two valves l4 and I5 are preferably in the form of spools or sleeves having flat parallel end faces and having cylindrical internal surfaces engaging curved annular surfaces |8 upon the tracer bar so that oscillatory movements of the tracer bar II will move the valves laterally in any direction. Intercepting the valve chambers l6 and I1 within which these valves l4 and I5 operate are conduits presently to be more fully described supplying fluid to two of the three cylinders 20, 2|

and 22 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The

operation of this hydraulic system by opening andclosing different conduits to the separate cylinders 20, 2| and 22 will presently be described.

Directly in rear of the tracer bar II is a pivotally mounted lever 24, one arm of which is provided with a plane surface 25 disposed normally to the axis of the tracer bar I when in its central position and in contact therewith. The opposite end of the lever 24 is attached by a suitable con necting rod or link 26 to an elongated piston or spool valve 21 movable axially to different positions to open and close conduits of the hydraulic system admitting and exhausting fluid to and from the third cylinder 22 of the hydraulic system. The lever 24, may, as shown, be supported upon a portion of the casing l0 by a suitable transversely mounted pivot. A light" spring 28 between the lever 24 and the casing III presses the short end of the lever 24 against the tracer bar II and holds this bar lightly toward its socket i2.

Referring to the hydraulic diagram, Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that pump 30 furnishes fluid under pressure to the chamber l6 of the laterally movable valve l4 and to the center portion of the valve casing within which the axially movable valve 21 operates. Conduit 3| extends from the pump 30 to the valve chamber l6 and a branch conduit 32 extends from conduit 3| to the chamber for valve 21. An exhaust or return conduit 33 extends from chamber H to the sump 40.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that there are four ports angularly spaced centrally of each of the valve chambers l6 and H which are opened and closed by lateral movements of the valves I4 and I3. Depending upon the direction of lateral movement of the valves valve chamber. N form the ends of conduits 34 and 35 leading to opposite ends of cylinder 20 and 01' conduits 36 and ,31 leading to the ends of cylinder 2|. Each-of these conduits 34, 35, 36, 31 has a branch conduit 34, 35 36 31* extending from an intermediate part of its conduit to a port opening into i valve chamber |1. From valve chamber N .there is a conduit 38 to a sump or tank 40. Valve chamber l5 may be referred to as the pressure chamber and chamber H as the draining or return chamber. When any port in pressure chamber I5 is open permitting fluid to flow to one end of a cylinder 20 or 2| there is a port opening into the draining chamber |1 permitting fluid to flow from the opposite end of that cylinder to the sump.

As an example let it be assumed that the valves 4 and i5 have been moved to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, thus opening ports to conduits 36 and 36 and closing ports of conduits 31 and 31. Fluid under pressure may therefore flow into the right hand end of cylinder 2| through conduit 36 and from the opposite end of the cylinder 2| through conduits 31 and 31 to chamber |1. From the chamber l1 the fluid will be returned to the sump 40 by conduit 33. Should the tracer bar ll be moved in an oblique direci6 and I1 and two portssimultaneously closed in each of the chambers. Fluid in that case would be admited at one end of each of the two cylinderls 20 and 2| and exhausted from the opposite en s.

By means of the pistons 42 and 43 movable within cylinders 20 and-2| parts of the machine may be moved in accordance with the configuration of the pattern or model and the movements of the tracer. As the elements of the machine moved by means of pistons 42 and 43 form no part of the present invention and may be similar in every way to those shown in the above referred to application, further description will not be necessary.

Movement axially of the tracer bar opens and closes ports controlled by valve 21 by axial movement thereof in the manner described above. As shown in Fig. 2, the chamber for this valve 21 has ports opening into intermediate portions from conduits and SI extending to opposite ends of the third hydraulic cylinder 22. Movement of the piston 52 within this cylinder controls the move- I ments of the work and tool toward and away from each other. With the tracer bar I in the position shown, fluid is being admitted through conduit 32 to a portion of the valve chamber. From this chamber the fluid can pass one of the heads on valve 21 and enter conduit 53 leading to the bottom of cylinder 22. correspondingly the other intermediate head on valve 21 opens conduit 54 from the upper end of cylinder 22 and permits fluid to flow into an exhaust conduit 55 intercepting an end portion of the chamber and leading to the sump 40.

From an inspection of Fig: 1 it will be seen that axial movement of the tracerbar II and axial movement of the valve can take place with the bar II in any oscillated position. Also the movement of the valve 21 is much greater in amount than the axial movement of the bar ll. Movement of the valve 21 is also opposite in direction to the movement of the tracer bar.

Until the bar ll touches the pattern being copied the valve 21 will remain open as shown to admit fluid to the lower end of cylinder 22 which will move the tool toward the work. When the bar ll touches the pattern the bar II will be forced rearward slightly which closes conduits 53 and 54, thus stopping further movement of the tool toward the work. Should the pattern call for movement of the tool away from the work further movement rearward of the bar I I would take place which would move the valve 21 to open conduit 54 to the portion of the chamber of valve 21 into which supply conduit 32 extends, thus forcing fluid to the upper end of cylinder 22. Simultaneously conduit 53 would be opened to the conduit 55 permitting fluid to exhaust to the sump 40.

In order to assure movement of the machine elements or one of them laterally during those periods when the tracer bar H is not in contact with the pattern, a light spring 60 is employed connecting the rear end of the tracer l l flexibly to a pin 6| outstanding from a rotatable member 62 supported on the casing l0 coaxially of the tracer. As the operation of this member is similar in every way to the correspondingv means shown in the above referred to patent, further description will not be necessary. It will be sufficient to state that the bar I I is always pressed to an oblique position so that while the tracer II is out of engagement from the pattern or model one or more ports in valve chambers 16 and H are open to admit fluid to one or both of cylinders 20 and 2 I.

What I claim is:

1. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body mem ber, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, a valve member movable relative to said body member by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic operating system for said die sinking machine, and a valve member movable relative to said body member by longitudinal movements of said bar to open and close other fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system.

2. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar mounted coaxially therein, a valve member movable laterally relative to said body member by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a. hydraulic operating system for said die sinking machine, and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member by longitudinal movements of said bar to open and close other fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system.

3. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, a valve member movable laterally relative to said bar in any direction in a plane by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic operating system for said die sinking machine, and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member by longitudinal movements of said bar to open and close other fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system.

4. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members movable relative to said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a. hydraulic system by oscillatory movements of said bar with said bar in any longitudinal position, and a valve member movable relative to said body member to open and close other fluid supply and exhaust conduits of the hydraulic system by longitudinal movements of said bar with said bar in any oscillated position.

5. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members movable laterally within said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic system by oscillatory movements of said bar with said bar in any longitudinal position, and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member to open and close other fluid supply and exhaust conduits of the hydraulic system by longitudinal movements of said bar with said bar in any oscillated position.

6. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members movable laterally in any direction in a plane within said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic system by oscillatory movements of said bar in any longitudinal position of said bar, and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of the hydraulic system by longitudinal movements of said bar in any oscillated position of said bar.

7. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members movable within said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic operating system controlling movements of members of said die sinking machine at right angles to each other by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar, and a valve member movable relative to said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system controlling movements of a member of said die sinking machine at right angles to the directions of movement of said above-mentioned members by longitudinal movement of said tracer bar.

8. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members movable laterally in any direction in a plane within said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic operating system controlling movements of members of said die sinking machine at right angles to each other by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar,'and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system controlling movements of a member of said die sinking machine at right angles to the directions of movement of said above-mentioned members by longitudinal movement of said tracer bar.

9. A combination contouring and profiling tracer for hydraulically operated die sinking machines comprising in combination, a body member, a universally oscillatory and longitudinally movable tracer bar therein, valve members laterally movable within said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of a hydraulic operating system controlling movements of members of said die sinking machine at right angles to each other by oscillatory movements of said tracer bar, and a valve member movable axially relative to said body member to open and close fluid supply and exhaust conduits of said hydraulic system. controlling movements of a member of said die sinking machineat right angles to the directions of movement of said above-mentioned members by longitudinal movement of said tracer bar, said valve members being movable laterally with the tracer rod in any axial position, and said valve member being movable axially with the tracer rod in any oscillated position.

ROBERT D. SHAW. 

